A SHORT MEDITATION

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I am in the process of changing versions of the Bible

that I read from again.  Generally I will read from one

or the other versions for several years.  Hopefully this

gives me a little better understanding of the Scriptures.

This time when I changed the purpose was to have the

most accurate version in English, not the most readable.

[No, I am not trying to change your mind on the version

you read.  Read the one you like - and keep your nose in

it.]  It came in a few days ago so this morning I was reading

at random.  I ran across a thought I had never noticed.  So,

I had been thinking about it for several hours.  I was even

trying to find other Scriptures that completed the thought.

That did not work.

So, back to the passage of Scripture in mind.  OUCH!

For some reason I had no noticed three small letters.

The letters were: n, o, t.  Yes, the word "not".  That

changed the whole meaning of that passage of Scripture.

My point is, are we reading the whole thing?  Or just

reading the parts of Scripture we want to try to make it

say what we want?  Are we reading only those parts of

the Scriptures that make us feel good?

WHO IS TEACHING YOU?

I am constantly appalled by the utter ignorance of professing 

"Christians" of the very Scriptures that are the 

source of their salvation. 

If you discuss Scripture with them it becomes apparent 

they are only parroting some preacher they have heard.

They would rightly turn up their nose at regurgitated food.

But willingly accept regurgitated teaching.

Jesus told us,

"Human beings cannot live on bread alone,

but need every word that God speaks."

-Matthew 4:4 (GNB)

You do not get any nourishment if someone

else is eating your sandwich for you.

Yes, God gave the church teachers and even pastors.

But they are not to predigest your spiritual food for you.

God gave YOU and me a personal teacher, the HOLY SPIRIT.

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"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the father
will send in my name, will teach you everything 
and make you remember all that I have told you."
-John 14:26 (GNB)


"So then, we do not speak in words taught by human
wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we 
explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit."
-1 Corinthians 2:13 (GNB)


"But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you.
As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need
anyone to teach you.  For his Spirit teaches you about
everything, and what he teaches is true, not false.  obey
the spirit's teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ."
-1 John 2:27 (GNB)

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God instructs us to test the teachers.
Even the most honest, wise, serious and holy
person can make a mistake.  Or, may have been mislead
by some other teacher.


"The people there were more open minded than the people 
 in Thessalonica.  They listened to the message with great 
eagerness, and every day they studied the Scriptures to 
see if what Paul said was really true."
-Acts 17:11 (GNB)


"You study the Scriptures, because you think that in them
you will find eternal life.  And these very Scriptures speak 
about me!"
-John 5:39 (GNB)


"Put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves,
to find out whether you are living in faith.
Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you?
- unless you have completely failed."
2 Corinthians 13:5 (GNB)


"Put all things to the test:
keep what is good and avoid
every kind of evil."
-1 Thessalonians 5:21 (GNB)


"My dear friends, do not believe all who 
claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find
out if the spirit they have comes from God.
For many false prophets have gone out everywhere."
-1 John 4:1 (GNB)


The only book in the world that really matters.
Let's get serious with it for ourselves.